my only thought is this is a very small sampling, around 9K cd/UC patients, to compare to a complete block of patients. As an underwriter who evaluates risk, I would find this an uncredible experience review.Dx'd '90 (emergency rupture), symptoms ignored long before that, '03 fistulas and bad flagyl reactions, B12 weekly, Pentasa [until I surrender to the bigger meds]

This article doesn't say much. Drugs increase risk of death, BUT if you take the drugs for CD you cut your risk of death by 10% - I don't get the point of the study since basically they found out the inevitable - your darned if you do and your darned if you don't.

"despite improved therapy, IBD patients, particularly those with Crohn's disease, continue to face an increased risk of death...the risk for CD is increased not only for gastrointestinal disease-related causes, but also for respiratory disease and infections." Dr. Lisa Herrinton

Like I wasn't wigged out enough by having this disease. What this says to me is that the drugs we use to treat our CD also suppress our already compromised immune system making us very suceptable to catch every infection out there. So do the risks of the Rx outweigh the benefits. Not for me.

Horsepuckies? What about quality of life? And which drugs increase respiratory disease? (The precious biologics the gastro profession is so excited about). There is a method of balancing the immunosuppressants such as Imuran and 6MP w/the risk of lowering the immune system too much.

Since I have COPD (from smoking, not Crohn's meds), the biologics are out for me. But I'm sure FAITHFUL taking my beloved Imuran and we monitor my results on a regular bases or when there is any weight loss or gain. As long as my meds give me quality of life, stuff quantity of life. I'm not worried about it.

If I don't have quality of life satisfactory to me I'll find a way out of it. I don't intend to hang around for quantity w/o quality.

And Mcleaver: our immune systems aren't compromised to less than necessary (underactive) due to Crohn's, the Crohn's is a result of our OVERACTIVE immune system!

Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

Personally, I'd rather live a short healthy life than a long sick one...but that's me, we're here for a good time, not a long time....life is short anyways so what's the difference? My mom reminded me today that one of her aunts lived to 108, I sure as heck hope I didn't inherit that gene.

:)My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)

I appreciate knowing and learning new things about this disease for sure, however, that being said, I try not to focus on anything that might seem scarier then it really is, the reverse is true about new weird treatments

Anything I learn about the disease that seems important to me I talk to my doc about, that so many people have had this disease for so long and continue to live give me all the hope I need, proof is right here in the forums...

Stay positive my friend, I personaly avoid any drugs that are not absolutley needed to save my life ( had to learn the hard way that neuro drugs and painkillers can mess with you bad)

Well, effective Crohn's drugs are the only meds that ARE going to save a crohnie's life. Just Pentasa may be effective for some, most require a little more effective med. Whatever works for keeping the disease at bay or at least to a low roar as long as possible.

Anything less is cheating you, your family and your friends of both quality and quantity of your life.

Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.